About this property

This former church has been tastefully converted, enabling retention of the original features. Auld Kirk B&B is located in the heart of picturesque Royal Deeside. It features free Wi-Fi and free off-site parking. Breakfast is freshly cooked to order and made from local ingredients wherever possible, and Auld Kirk's chef has won numerous awards and accolades. Bedrooms are stylish and contemporary. The range of guest amenities in each room include a Nespresso coffee machine, homemade biscuits, an iron and an ironing boards, a hairdryer, a television and free Wi-Fi. There is also a dram of Royal Lochnagar whiskey. The Royal residence of Balmoral castle is less than 8 miles away and Dufftown, part of the famous whiskey trail, is just over an hour’s drive away.

Couples in particular like the location – they rated it 9.8 for a two-person trip.

Distance in property description is calculated using © OpenStreetMap

Property highlights

    • Top Location: Highly rated by recent guests (9.8)

    • Breakfast Info

    • Full English/Irish, Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten-free

    • FREE parking!


Availability

Select dates to see this property's availability and prices

Room Type
Number of guests
 
1 full bed
2 twin beds
1 twin bed
and
1 queen bed
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Guest reviews

Categories:

Staff
Facilities
Cleanliness
Comfort
Value for money
Location
Free Wifi

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Guests who stayed here loved

  • Susan
    United States United States
    It’s a beautiful property both architecturally and historically. It was nicely decorated. The breakfast was excellent. It was spotless clean.
  • Karyn
    United States United States
    Kev, Helen, and Lisa were amazing. The location of the B&B in downtown Ballater put us within walking distance of restaurants, shopping, and hiking/walking trails. The breakfast was over the top!
  • Mark
    Canada Canada
    Property is easy to find, and very walkable around town. The property was well Maintained and clean. The hosts were very helpful with local recommendations and ideas for the rest of our Scotland vacation
  • Sarah
    United States United States
    Kevin and Helen were fantastic hosts , we enjoyed every bit of our stay.
  • Debra
    United States United States
    Great B&B! Kev and Helen are gracious hosts. The Auld Kirk is beautiful, clean, and comfortable. The breakfasts were the best we had in Scotland. Highly recommended.
  • Brittney
    United States United States
    Breakfast was delicious and a beautiful presentation. The overall experience was fantastic. We will definitely stay there again on our future vacations.
  • Robert
    United States United States
    Great hosts and breakfast. Comfortable and quiet room.
  • Ken
    United States United States
    Beautiful facility in a beautiful town. Breakfast was wonderful. Room was large and comfortable. Parking on the street iis readily available. Walking distance to all town ammenities.
  • Ronald
    United States United States
    Kev and Helen are the absolute best hosts, and Auld Kirk is one of the most interesting, comfortable, and delightful B&Bs where we have ever stayed. It’s historic, beautifully restored, and very true to Highland hospitality in every respect. ...
  • Bitar
    United States United States
    The owners Kevin & Helen personally greeted us, invited us to sit down in the drawing room (of the former church!) and share our plans and receive their welcome, guidance, and oriented us to town which was so helpful since we were in town for the...

Hosted by Kevin & Helen

9.9
Host Review Score
Kevin & Helen
Awarded Scotland's Best B&B of the Year 2025 by Prestige Hotel Awards and AA Bed & Breakfast of the Year for Scotland 2024, The Auld Kirk is a fine example of an early Victorian Scottish Free Church building that is set in the heart of Royal Deeside, within the Cairngorms National Park. Constructed from local granite, the Auld Kirk sits on the western edge of the historic village of Ballater, looking onto Craig en Darroch (the hill of Oaks), on the road towards Braemar. The Auld Kirk houses a comfortable and stylish coffee lounge that is popular with the local population and visitors alike. A great place to stop for a morning coffee, meet friends for a light lunch or linger over an indulgent afternoon tea. Fully licensed, our recently opened, fully stocked bar is a great place to relax with a beer or one of our fine selection of whiskies. The whole place was completely redecorated in early 2020 to give the place a bright and airy feel.
Owners Kevin & Helen bought The Auld Kirk in late 2018 and have undergone a programme of transformation to brighten place up and add a few stylish touches for guests to enjoy. A new bar with a wide selection of drinks is the latest addition to The Auld Kirk. Kevin & Helen look forward to welcoming guests both old and new to The Auld Kirk
Language spoken: English

Area info

House rules

The Auld Kirk takes special requests – add in the next step!
Check-in
From 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM
You need to let the property know what time you'll be arriving in advance.
Check-out
From 7:30 AM to 10:30 AM
Cancellation/ prepayment
Cancellation and prepayment policies vary according to accommodation type. Enter your stay dates and check the conditions of your selected option.
Children & Beds

Child policies

Children of all ages are welcome.

To see correct prices and occupancy info, add the number and ages of children in your group to your search.

Crib and extra bed policies

0 - 2 years
Crib upon request
Free
5+ years
Extra bed upon request
£25 per person, per night

Prices for cribs and extra beds aren't included in the total price. They'll have to be paid for separately during your stay.

The number of extra beds and cribs allowed depends on the option you choose. Check your selected option for more info.

All cribs and extra beds are subject to availability.

No age restriction
There's no age requirement for check-in
Pets
Pets are not allowed.
Accepted payment methods
VisaMastercardMaestroUnionPay credit cardCash
Smoking
Smoking is not allowed.
Quiet hours
Guests need be quiet between 10:00 PM and 8:00 AM.

The fine print

Must-know information for guests at this property

Payment Information:

Please note that the Auld Kirk Hotel does not accept American Express or Diners Club Cards.

An additional cot can be provided in the Family Room for GBP 10 per stay.

Please inform The Auld Kirk of your expected arrival time in advance. You can use the Special Requests box when booking, or contact the property directly using the contact details in your confirmation.

Quiet hours are between 22:00:00 and 08:00:00.

In accordance with government guidelines to minimize transmission of the coronavirus (COVID-19), this property currently isn't accepting guests from certain countries on dates where such guidelines exist.

In response to the coronavirus (COVID-19), additional safety and sanitation measures are in effect at this property.

In accordance with government guidelines to minimize transmission of the coronavirus (COVID-19), this property may request additional documentation from guests to validate identity, travel itinerary, and other relevant info on dates where such guidelines exist.

Due to coronavirus (COVID-19), this property adheres to strict physical distancing measures.

Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19), make sure you're booking this property in accordance with the destination's local government guidelines, including (but not limited to) the purpose of travel and maximum group size.

Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19), wearing a face mask is mandatory in all indoor common areas.

License number: AB-S-P053